The NEOC's main functions are centered on the preparedness, response, and recovery phases of the disaster management cycle. Its core responsibilities include:
Coordinating relief efforts: The NEOC serves as the central hub for coordinating and directing all national-level disaster relief operations.
Providing a command and control center: It acts as the central command post for monitoring, directing, and supporting states and agencies during a disaster.
Facilitating communication: It ensures that vital information is shared in real time between various government ministries, states, and relief agencies.
Mobilizing resources: The NEOC is responsible for the swift mobilization and deployment of national resources, such as the NDRF, armed forces, and essential supplies, to affected regions.
Long-term urban development, while related to disaster mitigation in some ways (e.g., building resilient infrastructure), is a function of other government bodies like the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The NEOC's role is specifically to manage the crisis itself and support the immediate aftermath.